Oral Medication Administration: Techniques and Best Practices

Question 1

Before giving oral medications, which factors are most important to consider?

Accepted Answer

Patient's allergies, current medications, and medical history

Answer

Patient's age and gender

Question 2

When administering a tablet, it is important to ensure that it is swallowed with:

Accepted Answer

Water

Answer

Juice

Answer

Soft drink

Answer

Milk

Question 3

What should be done if a patient vomits after receiving oral medication?

Accepted Answer

Document the incident and do not repeat the dose

Answer

Repeat the dose immediately

Answer

Wait 30 minutes and administer the dose again

Answer

Contact the doctor for further instructions

Question 4

Which of the following is **NOT** a common route of oral medication administration?

Accepted Answer

Intravenous

Answer

Sublingual

Answer

Buccal

Answer

Nasogastric

Question 5

When administering a tablet or capsule, the patient should generally be instructed to:

Accepted Answer

Take it with a full glass of water.

Answer

Chew it thoroughly.

Answer

Dissolve it in their mouth.

Answer

Lie down for 30 minutes.

Question 6

If a patient refuses to take their oral medication, the appropriate action is to:

Accepted Answer

Inform the healthcare provider and document the refusal.

Answer

Force them to take it.

Answer

Trick them into taking it.

Answer

Offer them a different form of the medication.

Question 7

What are two potential consequences of a patient not following the prescribed medication regimen?

Accepted Answer

Increased risk of side effects

Accepted Answer

Reduced effectiveness of the medication

Answer

Development of drug resistance

Answer

Improved patient outcomes

Question 8

What is the proper technique for administering a sustained-release capsule?

Accepted Answer

Swallow the capsule whole with a full glass of water.

Answer

Crush the capsule and mix it with water.

Answer

Administer the capsule with a small amount of food.

Question 9

What are the primary responsibilities of pharmacists in ensuring the safe and effective use of oral medications?

Accepted Answer

Educating patients on proper medication usage

Accepted Answer

Monitoring patient adherence and treatment outcomes

Answer

Dispensing medications without assessing their appropriateness

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a method of oral medication administration?

Accepted Answer

Injecting

Answer

Swallowing

Answer

Dissolving under the tongue

Answer

Chewing

Question 11

When administering a capsule, it is important to instruct the patient to:

Accepted Answer

Take it whole with water

Answer

Break it open and swallow the contents

Answer

Mix it with food

Answer

Crush it before taking it

Question 12

When administering an enteric-coated tablet, it is crucial to:

Accepted Answer

Swallow it whole with water

Answer

Crush it before giving it to the patient

Answer

Dissolve it in water

Answer

Give it with food

Question 13

To prevent errors when administering oral medications, which strategy is most effective?

Accepted Answer

Using a standardized medication administration record

Answer

Administering medications without verifying the patient's identity

Answer

Mixing all medications together in a single container

Answer

Failing to check for patient allergies before administering medications

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a route of administration for oral medications?

Accepted Answer

Intravenous

Answer

Buccal

Answer

Sublingual

Question 15

When administering oral medications to an elderly patient, which factor must be considered to ensure proper medication absorption?

Accepted Answer

Assess for dentures or other oral devices that may affect the medication's absorption or stability in the mouth.

Answer

Increase the dose of medication to compensate for reduced absorption, as elderly patients may have decreased absorption rates.

Answer

Administer medications with meals to reduce stomach upset, as certain medications can cause gastric irritation.

Question 16

Which of the following actions is a legal and ethical responsibility of healthcare professionals involved in medication administration?

Accepted Answer

Report any medication errors or incidents promptly to the appropriate authorities.

Answer

Prescribe medications to patients, as healthcare professionals with prescribing authority can independently order medications for their patients.

Answer

Refill patient prescriptions, as healthcare professionals are typically authorized to renew certain medications within specific guidelines.

Question 17

When should a healthcare professional consult with a pharmacist or prescriber regarding oral medication administration?

Accepted Answer

Whenever there are any concerns or uncertainties about the medication, its dose, administration method, or potential interactions.

Answer

Only when the medication is new to the patient, as new medications require additional monitoring and guidance.

Answer

Only when the patient is experiencing side effects, as side effects may indicate a need for medication adjustment or alternative treatment.

Question 18

Which practice is considered a key strategy in preventing medication errors?

Accepted Answer

Always double-check the patient's identity, medication, and dose against the prescription or medication order before administering the medication.

Answer

Administer medications at the same time each day, as consistency can help reduce errors related to timing.

Answer

Use only pre-filled syringes to reduce the risk of calculation errors, as pre-filled syringes minimize the need for manual calculations.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a key principle of safe oral medication administration?

Accepted Answer

Disregarding the patient's right to refuse medication

Answer

Accurate medication documentation

Answer

Correct patient identification

Answer

Proper administration technique

Question 20

The preferred method for administering a tablet is to:

Accepted Answer

Place it on the patient's tongue and have them swallow it with water

Answer

Dissolve it in water and administer it via a nasogastric tube

Answer

Crush it and mix it with food

Question 21

If a patient vomits after taking oral medication, the nurse should:

Accepted Answer

Withhold the next dose and notify the prescriber

Answer

Repeat the dose immediately

Answer

Give the patient water and monitor them

Answer

Administer an antiemetic

Question 22

When assessing a patient's ability to self-administer oral medications, a key factor to consider is their:

Accepted Answer

Cognitive function

Answer

Height and weight

Answer

Gender

Answer

Age

Question 23

The maximum number of tablets that should be crushed at one time is:

Accepted Answer

Two (2)

Answer

Three (3)

Answer

One (1)

Answer

Four (4)

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT a documentation requirement for oral medication administration?

Accepted Answer

The patient's signature

Answer

The name and dose of the medication

Answer

The date and time of administration

Answer

The patient's response to the medication

Question 25

The primary reason for administering oral medications with food is to:

Accepted Answer

Reduce gastrointestinal upset

Answer

Prevent drug-drug interactions

Answer

Mask the taste of the medication

Answer

Enhance medication absorption

Question 26

A potential risk associated with administering oral medications through a nasogastric tube is:

Accepted Answer

Aspiration

Answer

Drug interactions

Answer

Overdose

Answer

Nausea and vomiting